"Let's start 2017 off in a positive way with a Pay It Forward meme. The first 10 people to comment will receive a surprise from me at some point in 2017 — anything from a book, something home-grown or made, a postcard, absolutely any surprise! It will happen when the mood comes over me and I find something that I believe would suit you and make you happy.

If you can, post this in your own journal and pay it forward. Let's do more kind and loving things for each other in 2017, without any reason other than to make each other smile and show that we think of each other. If you're up for anything, please comment below and then PM me your contact info. Comments are NOT screened. If you'd rather receive something "virtual", then let me know in a comment."

(My additions: It'll probably be digital art or fic, as I don't sew or knit, but if I think of something or I see something that really screams your name at me, it may be a gift in the mail, who knows. If you are comfortable PMing me your info, fine. If not, also fine, as I said it'll most likely be over the internet anyways. Just tell me in the comments, "I want to be part of the Pay It Forward meme." Also, do the meme yourself by reblogging and changing the number of people you'll respond to - this said 6, I changed mine to 10. Make 2017 a better year for all!)

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The second meme is a Year In Review type thing I saw on Tumblr. Taken from weneedalittlehearthope: 36 questions that can help you sum up your year, 2016. Pick one or two and drop them in my comments and I'll respond in a post!

~ Looking back on 2016 ~

1: What did you do in 2016 that you’d never done before?2: Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?3: Did anyone close to you give birth?4: Did anyone close to you die?5: What countries did you visit?6: What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?7: What dates from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?8: What was your biggest achievement of the year?9: What was your biggest failure?10: Did you suffer illness or injury?11: What was the best thing you bought?12: Whose behaviour merited celebration?13: Whose behaviour made you appalled?14: Where did most of your money go?15: What did you get really, really, really excited about?16: What song will always remind you of 2016?17: Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?18: What do you wish you’d done more of?19: What do you wish you’d done less of?20: How did you spend Christmas?21: Did you fall in love in 2016?22: What was your favourite TV program?23: Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?24: What was the best book you read?25: What was your greatest musical discovery?26: What did you want and get?27: What did you want and not get?28: What was your favourite film of this year?29: What one thing made your year immeasurably more satisfying?30: How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?31: What kept you sane?32: Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?33: What political issue stirred you the most?34: Who did you miss?35: Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016.36: Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

And hey, if you want me to ask you a question, just say so in the comment and I'll drop you one to respond to, a chance to think about 2016 one last time before we move forward onto February 2017 already.

Oh goodness, I never answered these questions or sent you a gift! How did 2017 get away from me so quickly?

At any rate, I think answering these questions for the 2017/18 year would make a nice post, so I will endeavor to do that.

As for the gift, I have had a very specific idea in my head for months on this - see I never forgot, just lost track of time - so if you would indulge me with a few of your favorite photos of Pip, including one of her with her giant teddy bear, I would most appreciate it!

Okay, okay, I never answered these questions for 2016/17, so I will try to answer them for 2017/18. I will make a post of it!

As for the gift, I did not forgot! Just ran out of time with how hectic the year was last year. But, if I can pull it off, I have a very good idea in my head of something for you. So I will put it on my list for 'after the cruise'. I go on a cruise (yay!) in February & am trying not to do anything that takes too much of my energy before that. I want to be in tip-top energy levels for the cruise!